From today’s Gospel, from St Luke: ‘And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets”’.

So often in the Gospels, it is recorded that Jesus ‘lifted up His eyes’, or ‘looked up’ – it may be towards His Father, or, as in this passage, on His disciples.

May His gaze rest on us too this day, a kindly, compassionate gaze, and may He bless us all.